Quarterback Jacob Coker of St. Paul's practices in Mobile on Tuesday for the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic. (Press-Register/Mike Kittrell)

It didn't take long for McKenzie's Emmanuel Johnson to find a position on the Alabama squad. He's a receiver.

"It felt good for the first day," said Johnson, the lone Class 1A player for the Alabama team in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic. "I'm proud I get to play."

The 5-foot-11, 175-pounder played quarterback, running back, receiver, defensive back and kick returner this season for McKenzie. He has committed to Southern Miss, where he's expected to play defensive back.

This week, though, he'll be catching passes instead of defending them. He also worked as a kick returner and holder Tuesday.

MISSISSIPPI INJURIES: Three Mississippi All-Stars suffered injuries on Tuesday, though none were considered serious.

Defensive end P.J. Jones went down in a heap late in Tuesday's morning practice and appeared for a few moments to have sustained a serious knee injury. But Jones, a 6-foot-3, 260-pounder with several SEC offers, popped up quickly and jogged the injury off. He was back in his gear and participated in all drills in the afternoon session.

Quarterback Jaquez Johnson of Starkville, who will split time with West Jones' Ben Stevens Saturday, spent most of Tuesday's afternoon practice with ice on his right (throwing) shoulder. Johnson (6-1, 215) returned to action for some running game work later in the afternoon.

Callaway offensive tackle Aaron Morris, an Ole Miss commitment, was helped off the field with an apparent right knee injury but was eventually walking under his own power. He did not participate in some later drills, but Mississippi team coach M.C. Miller said he expects Morris (6-5, 310) to return at full speed today.

"It's just a little faster pace than they're used to," Miller said. "They've just got to get used to playing this up-tempo style. But they'll all be OK."

IN SICKNESS, AND IN HEALTH: Gardendale's Chris Fancher wasn't about to let an ear infection keep him from coaching this week.

Fancher is handling the offensive line for the Alabama squad, but left Tuesday's morning practice early to see a local doctor. Rejuvenated by an injection of antibiotics, he said he felt much better for the afternoon practice.

"I wouldn't miss this for the world," Fancher said.

Fancher began feeling sick on Sunday and things didn't get any better Monday, which he said was "one of the 10 worst days of my life." He drove from suburban Birmingham to Mobile on Monday, even as his fever spiked at 102 degrees.

WHERE IS HE? Vigor defensive back Eric Dixon missed Tuesday's first practice session, but he had a good reason.

He was taking the Alabama High School Graduation Exam.

"I think I did pretty good," Dixon said.

Dixon still must pass two sections of the exam to meet Alabama's graduation requirements, and he will take another section this morning.That will likely mean he'll get to practice a bit late.

Wide receiver Joe Morrow of Ocean Springs makes a catch on Tuesday while practicing in Mobile for the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic.(Press-Register/Victor Calhoun)

LINE TAKING SHAPE: There are still three days and five practices before Saturday's game, but the Mississippi team's offensive line began to solidify a rotation Tuesday.

Wilkinson County's James Maiden, a Mississippi State commitment, appears a solid bet to anchor the line at left tackle, with Brookhaven's Stone Underwood and Itawamba's C.J. Ramirez rotating at left guard. St. Stanislaus' Chris Frigo and Gulfport's Jacob Troutman are splitting time at center.

The right side of the line was also fluid on Tuesday, with Morris working primarily at tackle and Oxford's Terry Johnson practicing at guard. Taylorsville's Justin Booth was rotating between the two spots.

TOP PLAYS: Vigor receiver Marvin Shinn made two impressive catches on deep passes -- both from St. Paul's quarterback Jacob Coker -- during 7-on-7 drills in Tuesday's afternoon session.

Defensive backs Jacquese Kirk of Walker and McGill-Toolen's E.J. May had interceptions. May and LeFlore's Danny Woodson Jr. also had a spirited fight for a deep pass that eventually fell incomplete.

Even though a single kicker is picked to do it all, other players have been tapped for kicking chores in the past. Last year, quarterback and Mr. Football Coty Blanchard punted.

Prattville's Lance Shuffert appears to be Alabama's snapper, Coker appeared to be the holder, and Homewood's Ameer Abdullah and McKenzie's Johnson have handled kickoff returns. Abdullah also looks like the pick to return punts.

ATHLETES IN ACTION: Two players are listed as "athletes" on the Mississippi roster, but one was working exclusively on offense and the other on defense Tuesday.

Mount Olive's Rueben Duckworth practiced at running back Tuesday. Duckworth quarterbacked the Pirates to back-to-back 1A championships, rushing for 250 yards and accounting for three touchdowns in a 20-14 win over Durant last week.

South Panola's Kendrick Market is practicing at cornerback and safety, spending plenty of time covering high school teammate Nickolas Brassell in 7-on-7 drills Tuesday. Market, Brassell and fellow Mississippi All-Star Qyendarius Griffin (a running back) led the Tigers to their second straight 6A championship, a 28-7 victory over Meridian on Friday.

Market is also set to return kickoffs, working alongside Madison Central wide receiver Tobias Singleton on Tuesday.

FUN FOR ALL AGES: All-Stars from both states enjoyed Dreamland BBQ for Tuesday's dinner, as well as entertainment at Florida Bowl in Mobile.

Today's schedule includes two-a-day practices. Alabama will be at Lipscomb Stadium from 9-11 a.m., while the afternoon practice begins at 3 p.m. at Foley High in Baldwin County. The Mississippi squad practices today from 9-11 a.m. at UMS-Wright and from 3-5 p.m. at Greyhound Stadium in Ocean Springs, Miss.